How to Plant Teff in a Garden

Select a planting site. Teff grows best at altitudes above 6,000 feet. The ideal annual rainfall for teff is about 20 inches, and the daily temperature during the growing season should be between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Teff also requires full sun.

Purchase the teff seeds from a commercial seed provider. This species has many cultivars, allowing you to select the characteristics that best match the growing requirements of your area.

Fill a planting tray with standard potting soil to start teff in a greenhouse. Teff is generally tolerant of a range of soil types, but prefers rich loam. It can also grow in acid and alkaline soils.

Sow the teff seeds directly on the soil in the planting tray during the early spring. Cover the seeds with no more than 1/2 inch of gardening soil. Water the soil sparingly without allowing it to become wet.

Remove the teff seedlings from the planting tray as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them in individual pots. Grow the seedlings in the greenhouse until the last expected frost of the spring.

Dig holes in your garden with a trowel and transplant the teff seedlings to their permanent location. These plants are very hardy once established and should not require special care from this point.